Saving libraries: it's a page-turner!

Bristol backs books

Bristol City Council has been slammed for low school results in reading. So what does it do? It plans to close seven branch libraries.

These are places where people can self-educate; use a computer for free; apply for jobs; enjoy books; meet people; access free training... the list goes on.

It follows a sham consultation where questions like "Do you use Amazon?" suggested we no longer need libraries.

On 7 March, Socialist Party members and TUSC supporters gauged opinion on this. Campaigning against these cuts, we sold out our 35 copies of the Socialist and collected over 100 signatures in just over an hour.

Sheila Caffrey

>

A story of a girl

Covenrty Socialist Party took part in a library "read-in" protest on 2 March against closures. It involved the telling of stories. So here is a story of a girl, who as a child had nothing.

This girl got kicked out of school aged 14 without being able to read or write and was branded a good-for-nothing.

This girl used to pass a house often, and in that house lived Dave Nellist. The girl heard that this MP stood up for people like her, but didn't ever dare to think that one day she would meet him. That girl was me, and now I campaign alongside Dave!

It's thanks to libraries and adult education classes that I learned how to read and write and got diagnosed with dyslexia aged 25.

Now I have been selected to stand in the local elections. Vote TUSC for fighting councillors who'll stand up for you!